IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN. IT'S A LESSON OUR GUEST LEARNED...AND THAT LED HER TO PUT THE PEN TO THE PAPER. SHE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT HOW PUTTING THE PEDAL TO THE METAL HAS BECOME A NATIONAL PHENOMENON. LET'S WELCOME CAROLE TOWNSEND...AUTHOR OF "MAGNOLIAS, SWEET TEA AND EXHAUST." THAT LAST PART REFERS TO NASCAR. SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT AS CLOSE TO THE ACTION AS POSSIBLE...WHEN YOU WERE WRITING THIS BOOK! WHAT IS MAGNOLIAS, SWEET TEA AND EXHAUST ABOUT? The book is about how a 50-something suburban mom could step out onto an entirely unfamiliar ledge and learn, from the inside out, about NASCAR, a phenomenon and sport that boasts 75 million fans in the US alone. It was quite an experience! WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE WRITING THE BOOK? As I have traveled over the years, no matter whether I was in NY, CA or even out of the country, when I'd tell people that I was from the South, almost without fail I'd hear, "What's the deal with NASCAR?" or "Who's your favorite driver?" I had no idea! So last year, I decided I was going to figure it out. I hit the road in February to go to the first race of the season in Daytona, went to six races throughout the South, visited the Hall of Fame, the "super" garages in NC, and talked to fans at races and while tailgating. I talked with drivers, team owners, pit crew members, mechanics and track managers. I got "schooled" in NASCAR during the 2013 season. WHAT ARE SOME INTERESTING THINGS YOU LEARNED ABOUT NASCAR WHILE WRITING THE BOOK? I had no idea of the science, the athleticism and the money in NASCAR! I was also surprised again and again by the graciousness and patience of the people who took their time and resources to teach me about the sport that they love. Too, they take tailgating to a new level, probably since they do it for days on end! LET'S TEST YOUR NASCAR KNOWLEDGE. TRUE OR FALSE? A DONUT IS WHEN A CAR ACCIDENTALLY DOES 360-DEGREE TURN ON THE TRACK. IT'S FALSE. "DONUT" IS A SLANG TERM FOR BLACK, CIRCULAR, DENT-LINE MARKS ON THE SIDE PANELS OF STOCK CARS, USUALLY CAUSED AFTER RUBBING AGAINST OTHER CARS AT HIGH SPEED. TRUE OR FALSE? ESSES: SLANG TERM FOR THE EXPLETIVES FANS SAY WHEN THEIR FAVORITE DRIVER FALLS BEHIND. it's false. Turns out that "esses" is a slang term for a series of acute left- and right-hand turns on a road course, one turn immediately following another. TRUE OR FALSE? GROOVE REFERS TO THE BEST ROUTE AROUND THE RACETRACK. TURNS OUT IT'S TRUE! GROOVE IS THE SLANG TERM FOR THE MOST EFFICIENT OR QUICKEST WAY AROUND THE TRACK FOR A PARTICULAR DRIVER. THE "HIGH GROOVE" TAKES A CAR CLOSER TO THE OUTSIDE WALL FOR MOST OF A LAP, WHILE THE "LOW GROOVE" TAKES A CAR CLOSER TO THE APRON THAN THE OUTSIDE WALL. ROAD RACERS USE THE TERM "LINE." DRIVERS SEARCH FOR A FAST GROOVE, AND THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON TRACK AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. TODAY...CAROLE TOWNSEND WILL BE ATTEND A BOOK SIGNING AT BOOKS A MILLION IN ANDERSON FROM 12P - 4PM. THE ADDRESS IS 3131 NORTH MAIN STREET. THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 225-0605.

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